THE portents were there early that this was going to be Melbourne's night.

Even though it almost wasn't.

Demons fans suspected something was afoot when 208cm ruckman Max Gawn dashed away from an early centre bounce like a kelpie who had snatched a porterhouse from a butcher's shop.

They could feel the plot thickening when ungainly 200cm cult hero Jack Fitzpatrick slotted home just his second career goal with a remarkable 40-metre banana from the boundary, putting the Demons 14 points up moments into the second quarter.

Melbourne have hung on for just their second win of the season after seven late goals from the Western bulldogs threatened to snatch a seemingly certain victory from their grasp.

They sensed they were in for something special when Jeremy Howe pulled in two of his trademark hangers within 15 minutes of each other in the first half.

Then there was David Rodan, tiptoeing at top speed along the boundary like he was in a Lygon St waiters' race, handballing to himself and bouncing twice before kicking a contender for goal of the year.

These were simply the moments when Demons fans turned to each other with eyebrows raised.

Sam Bleese celebrates a goal. Picture: Wayne LudbeySource: Herald Sun

They have seen several such cameos before this season and still come away 15 goals on the wrong side of the ledger.

This time, it seemed the fates had something far crueller in mind, when the Demons stretched their lead to 44 points midway through the final quarter only for the Bulldogs to mount a desperate late challenge.

From the 14-minute mark of the last term, the Bulldogs kicked seven unanswered goals and had twice as many possessions (60-30) to get within two points with 90 seconds to play.

Even worse, one of those goals came from an incorrect call by a boundary umpire, when Lachlan Hunter kicked the ball into the shin of teammate Jackson McRae and somehow won a free kick when the ball rebounded over the boundary line on the full.

His kick to Will Minson in the goalsquare got the Dogs to within eight points.

Jack Watts against the Dogs. Picture: Wayne LudbeySource: Herald Sun

A goal from Adam Cooney five minutes late reduced the difference to one kick, and it was only a couple of late defensive marks from Jack Watts and later James Frawley that helped the Demons hang on grimly.

Apart from those terrifying final moments, which in the end only served to make the victory even sweeter, there was much for Demons fans to enjoy in between the eye-brow-raising moments.

Such as Melbourne starting the game full of energetic running and enthusiasm, then chasing and tackling whenever they lost the ball so that the Dogs were unable to get any fluid ball movement going.

Instead the Bulldogs were left to rely on flashes of individual brilliance, most often from Ryan Griffen, Tom Liberatore and Bob Murphy.

Such as Watts and Howe starting deep in the forward line as part of a four-pronged attack with Fitzpatrick and Chris Dawes that gave the Demons potency.

Matched against the miserly Dale Morris, Watts hit the ball hard, handled cleanly and produced second efforts.

He had three goals to half time, finished with four and could have had more but for occasional lapses into casualness.

Such as the sight of their co-captain Jack Trengove moving freely and confidently, and their big-name recruit Chris Dawes clunking marks and busting packs.

The Demons supporters clearly loved seeing their team string together several precise disposals, cheering each hit target in a manner reminiscent of soccer fans sending up constant chants of ''Ole''.

They would have enjoyed seeing their team benefit from some coaching moves: for the second week in a row under caretaker coach Neil Craig the Demons employed the huddle at their kick ins and it frequently helped them clear the ball from their back half.

And they would have taken great pleasure in the fact that Demons won three quarters, given they had won just eight of a possible 48 previously this season, the same number as Greater Western Sydney.

It's just that, for the sake of their blood pressure, they would desperately have liked to see their team win that final quarter.

Maybe just break even.

Or at least not concede seven goals in 15 minutes.

They would have liked their boys to show that they know how to win, rather than showing that they haven't quite forgotten how to lose.

But the bottom line for Melbourne fans is that they did manage to win, and maybe show that they're headed in the right direction.

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